Wicket construction



Oct. 26, 1937. w. FRANKEL WICKET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul'y 9, 1934 FIGBL. E. wm R Y mam NF/NR E o VM T @MMM L WY B Patented Oct. 26, 1937Unirse star sare-sr orFIcE i 28 Claims.

This invention relates to wicket construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide, for a wicket constructionto be arranged in connection with a door structure, a single unitaryconstruction having a number of features coordinated and desirable forinspection ofjandcommunication with, an individual outside an enclosure,e'iciently and without danger. Y

It is an object of the invention to provide, in association with awicket construction, elements for an alarm-creating device, theassociation of the elementsy being capable of eiiectuation Without, inany manner, marring the appearance of the door structure.

The single unitary device, so mounted at a door, may have means topermit one Within an enclosure to determine, without disclosing his ownactions, what is proceeding on the other' side of the door. Such elementmay have means toi permit conversation to take place, at will, betweenpersons on opposite sides of a door. In that same single unit, there maybe associated means for identifying the particular apartment or room orsimilar location for which such door is' provided; and means, such as aknocker, for giving an alarm at the door, which knocker, in turn, mayhave means upon which to position, for retention thereon, letters orsimilar items.

The wicket structure may include a plurality Y of closures, mounted tocooperate with an opening in the door. in one specific construction, oneof the closures is designed to carry the other. Furthermore, one of theclosures may be provided Vwith a device which permits one, withoutdifficulty, to look through the door opening in one direction, whileinterfering with and making difiicult any attempt to glance through theopening in the other direction. One of the closures may be provided withan Velement which, as theolosures jointly move automatically to closedposition, will function to latch theclosures in position,'thus toprevent anyone from looking or speaking through the opening. Merely byengaging this latch, a person within the enclosure may swing the entirearrangement out of the way, and. then carry on conversation through theopening, if he so desire.

In specic construction, the invention involves Y the association of thetransparent element with the closure means of a simple casing structureby which its assembly, quickly and eciently, and without danger cibreakage of the transparent elements which generally are of glass, maybe eifectuated. In this instance, a reflecting element is utilized forsetting up interference with any- (Cl. 2li-39) ones vision when heattempts unauthorizedly to spy into a dwelling through the opening. Themirror, which may be of any well-known type,

may be guarded against destruction or injury,

during its use, but without interferencewith the light-transmittingproperties of the mirror device, by means such as the interposition ofanother element, such as an additional piece of glass.

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or willbe apparent from the description and the drawing, in which isillustrated one type of wicket construction capable of carrying out theinvention.

The invention, however, is not intendedto be restricted to anyparticular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particularapplication of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, orto any of various details thereof, herein shown and described, as thesame may be modied in various particulars, or be applied in many Variedrelations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedinvention, the wicket construction herein illustrated and describedmerely being of one of various forms and modifications in which theinvention might be embodied. Y On the drawing, in which the samereference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in whichare disclosed preferred embodiments:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a wicket construction embodyingfeatures of the invention, shown as mounted upon a door, the door beinglbroken away; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the construction shown in Fig. 1,one of the closures being shown in dotted lines in its normallyclosedposition, and in full lines in one of its open positions;

Fig. 4 is a view'of a detail of the construction, shown in perspective;and i Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the front face ofone of the movable closures of the wicket construction,.illustrating adetail of construction.

The type of wicket construction I0, shown on the drawing, is especiallyadapted for use in conjunction with metallic doors. The invention,however, is not intended to be so limited, except possibly in some ofits very specic elements of construction, since, by a simple change in,one or more `of the disclosed elements, the invention may be applied inmany other associations, without departure from the principles ofinvention herein to be detailed. Construction I0, as here shown,includes an escutcheon plate I2,.a knocker I4, a back-plate I6, a springdoor I 8, and a gravity closure 20. The construction is here shown.associated with a door 22, through which an opening 24 is formed. Platei6 of the construction is mounted on the inner face 26, and plate I2, atthe outer face 28 of the door, in the manner to be detailed.

Plate I6 may be made up in any desired manner and take any desired form;in the type shown, it is an elongated casting having a thin plate-likewall 38. One effective type of construction was found Where each of theseveral parts, viz, plate IE, spring door I8, and gravity closure 28,was of thin cross-section. At a central portion of wall 38 an opening 32is provided.

This opening, when plate I6 is properly assembled, is substantially ofthe same contouring as, and thus cooperates properly with opening 24, topermit one to speak through the door.

Escutcheon plate I2 may likewise be made in any desired manner, as bycasting, and may have any desired contouring or ornamentation appliedthereto, while an opening 34 is formed therethrough, this opening beingdimensioned and positioned to cooperate with openings 24 and 32 whenplates I2 and I6 are properly assembled on door 22.

Spaced inwardly from the edge of opening 32 in-plate I6 there may beprovided a plurality of openings 3'1, preferably countersunk at face 38to cooperate properly with heads of screws 48, so that such screws, whenfinally assembled, will be either below or immediately in the surface ofplate IS. In this manner, face 38 will be uninterrupted in itscontinuous planar character, both for a neatly finished construction andfor a proper cooperation with door I8.

In like manner, a number of tapped holes 42 may be formedin the rearface 44 of plate I2, arranged around opening 34 therein in the samerelationship as openings 36 in plate I8. |IVhus, when screws 48 arepassed through openings 36, they may be engaged with the threads ofholes 42 to bring plates I2 and I6 together, and so to retain them.Rotation of plates I2 and I6, with 'relation to door 22, is to beprevented. A construction especially adapted for metal doors is hereshown in which a number of openings 46 may be provided through the door.Screws 4t,

vif extended through these openings, will lock the entire assemblyagainst any such rotation. However, other arrangements may be provided,as, for instance, a single screw passed through plate I6 and engagingonly door 22 itself, asV

where such door is wooden.

At any suitable portion of escutcheon plate.l2, as, for instance, ashere shown, at the top thereof, an elongated slot 48 may be defined.Rear face 58 of plate I2, immediately at slot48, may be provided with arecessed formation 52, closed at the side edges of plate I2, except ashereinafter otherwise described, but opening upwardly into a passage 54through which a name plate, or any such device customarily used fordesignating the apartment or enclosure with which door 22 is associated,may be inserted into a proper relation with slot 48.

Spring door I8 is mounted to swing away from plate I6. In theconstruction here shown, the plate, at one end thereof, has a pair ofarms 56 extending substantially parallelly therefrom. These arms havealigned openings 58 for the ree cepticn of a pin 68, there retainedpositively with relation to arms 56 in any desired manner. Spring doorI8, which may be made by casting, is here shown with a pair of arms 62at one end, these arms being spaced to be received between arms 56. Arms62, in turn, have openings 64, in proper alignment with each other andso located as to be capable of alignment with openings 58. Thus, pin 68may retain plate I6 and door I8 associated to permithingng relativemovement thereof. A spring 66 may be wound around pin 68, one end of thespring being anchored in an opening 68 in a side edge I8 of door I8. Theother end 12 of the spring may be left free to engage against door 22,thus to provide sufficient resilient force tending normally to move doorI8 into contact with plate I6.

From plate I6, at one end, extends a lug 14. This lug may have anupwardly sloping cam surface 'I6 terminating at a notch 18, extendingdownwardly into the lug from its top edge. Both cam and notch areintended to cooperate with a latch 88 carried at the end of door I8opposite arms 55. Latch 80 may consist of an arm 82 so mounted upon apin 84 as to permit pivotal movement of the arm about the pin. Suchmovement is limited in two directions by a single stop 86. On upwardmovement of the arm, a lug 88 thereon enga-ges against top 86. 'Ihe armnormally gravitates so that its body rests against the stop. The armfurther may be provided with an outwardly extending boss 90 to serve asa manipulating finger for the arm.

Arm 82, by its normal cooperation with stop 86, positions the lower edge92 of its free end 94 to engage cam surface 16 as door I8 swings toclosed position. On continued movement of door i8 in the same direction,the latch will ride up this cam surface, and finally fall, bygravitational action, into notch 18. Thus, by itsengagement in thenotch,vthe arm automatically functions to retain the door againstopening movement upon the application of any unwarranted force thereto,and to be released only upon a properly directed manipulation of the armby engaging finger 98. In the latter case, after engagement of finger88, the arm is caused to rise, and lug 88, to engage the stop.Continuing the application of this force to the finger and then simplypulling upon the linger outwardly away from the door, will swing door I8to open position, whereupon communication through openings 24, 32 and 34may proceed. The action of lifting finger Si] and the pull thereon arefound to be substantially a single force, and function continuously foreifectuating the movement of the door to the open position.

Through door I8 is formed an opening 96, this opening being of slightlyless radius than openings 24, and Sil. Associated at opening 96 is thecombined view-permitting-and-interfering means 98. In this case, themeansincludes a mirror piece In one method of assembly for this type offace 522 of door I8 adjacent plate it is provided with an annular recessor shoulder It around opening 96. Within the recess is rested flange Iof a ring |08. This ring may be formed substantially of Z-shapedcross-section, having another iiange I!!! extending from a wall I i2thereof to provide a ledge i i4. f

Against this ledge is rested mirror piece IBO, with its reiiectingsurface Ii' facing outwardly. One type of mirror intended for use hereis that in which, upon that face oi a transparent member, vSuch as apiece of glass disposed opposite the face resting against ledge H4, hasbeen deposited or otherwise disposed thereon a silvering or similarreflecting body.V Such body is, of course, otherwise substantiallyopaque, except at fine lines I8, or similar means, which may bedelineated in vthe Vreflecting surface by removing the deposit from, or,in'the rst instance, leaving the glass or similar surface free of, suchreflecting body. Metallic mirrors also are contemplated, in which casethe glass pieces, or either of them, herein mentioned, may, for certainpurposes, be eliminated. Also,.the metallic mirror, in the form ofhighly polished sheet metal of well-known types, may be stamped with therequisite openings to conform to the desired delineated lines H8.

In either case, when one peers through lines H8 from the side of door 22at which plate I6 is located, no interference with sight, Yexcept forthe limited outlook, will follow. On the other hand, to attempt to lookthrough Vthe door in the opposite direction is to meet the reflectionfrom the mirror surface, which will effectually interfere with vision inthat direction. Also, one at the outside will not be aware of anothermaking an inspection from the inside, because of the flneness of thelines, and their` ordinary black appearance against the shiny characterof the mirror surface.

To protect surface H6, especiallywhere it is a deposit upon Vthe surfaceof a transparent member such as glass, a piece |2 of transparentmaterial of the same or different character may be positionedimmediately over surface H6 so that, when the assembled pieces VHill and|2 are positioned upon rim |22 of opening S6, and ring Hi8 is placedover the pieces and into recess |94, glass piece |29 will abut againstrim |22, being of llarger diameter than opening 96. Merely by punchingthe metal immediately around the outer edge of recess |04, as, forinstance, aty points |24, the metal at that edge will be swaged against,and then will serve to retain, flange IJ'S, and, therefore, ring |08 andthe associated pieces against separation, and thus positively to fix themirror and its protecting piece in position.

Although ring |08 may extendv somewhat from face |02, it may be of lessdiameter than openings 2Q, 32 and 3e. Thus, when door I8 swings toclosed position, the ring and its assembled members will move intoopenings 24 and 32 and be snugly housed therein. In the case oa door 22of any considerable thickness, the ring will not appear at alloutside'the enclosure. In any case, the thickness of the escutcheonplate will make up for any possible extension of the ring. Furthermore,opening 32 may be bevelled off at |26, at the face immediately adjacentthe ring, thus to receive snugly the extending ring element.

Door |8 may be formed wi'th an extension |28, upon which may be mounteda pin |30, providing a pivot for securing gravity closure 20, which maybe made from a stamping. As can be seen, this closure normallyiwouldtend to gravitate into a position barring opening 96, and thus preventany inspection through lines H8. Thus, only when one within theenclosuremoves closure ZQ-upwardly away from opening 9B, ork opens door I8, couldany inspection or communication be eifected through opening 2li. Whenclosure 2E! is moved from its normal barring position, shown in dottedlines on Fig. 3, to the full-line position there shown, by pivoting itcounterclockwise'about pin |32, it may be brought to rest, as shown,with its edge resting against arm 82. A tongue |32 at the lower end ofclosure 20 may facilitate the manipulation thereof. Also, this tongue aswell as the body of the plate will co-act with arm 82 toilpreventrotation of the plate aboutV pin |30 other than in the directionindicated to bring the plate to rest upon arm 82, and then reverselythereof. Y

Immediately adjacent the upper end of the escutcheon plate, at its rearface, a pair of notches |34 opening into recessed formation 52 and atthe side edges and rear face of the escutcheon plate may be defined.These notches cooperate with the faceof the door to form bearings forlugs |36, which extend inwardly from arms |38 of knocker i4. With theassembly of plates I2 and I6 at the door, lugs |35 will be held looselybetween plate i2 and the door, permitting free rocking movement of theknocker.

M- at the lower end of the knocker may strike against a contact button42 which may be formed as anintegral part of the escutcheon plate. Theknccker, if desired, may take any desired orna# mental form. In thiscase itis shown to include a spring nger ld, retained, by a screw |4'6,against the rear face of the knocker, and locked against rotationalmovement by a pair of bosses |28. Letters or similar matter may becaught vbetween finger IM and theknocker.

Vmethods of operation set forth, and in specific details thereof,without substantially departing from the invention intended to bedefined in the claims, the specific description being merely of anembodiment within the spirit of the invention.

What is 'claimed as new and useful Yisz-- Y V1. A'wicket constructionfor positioning at an opening to permit guarded unobserved inspection orpositive communicationthrough the opening, the construction including aclosure for the opening,`the closureY including a pair of members eachof which independently of the other normally tends to move toopening-closing position, one of the members` having an aperture tocooperate with the opening, the other member being associated with theaperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, the aperture havinga barrier mounted therein, and means'associated with the barrier topermit visibility through the barrier in one direction but interferingwith positive communication through the opening and with visibility inthe other direction.

2. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guardedunobserved inspecf tion or positive communication through the opening,the construction including a closure for the opening, the closureincluding a pair of members `each of which normally tends to move toopening-closing position, one of the Vmembers having an aperture tocooperate with the opening, the other member being carried entirely bythe first member so as normally to tend to bar that aperture, theaperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with thebarrier to permit visibility through the barrier in one direction butinterfering with positive communication through the opening andV withvisibility in the `other direction.

3. A device of the character described, includ- In such case, anextension j ing ,a communication-preventing element and a visibilitybarrier, the element and the barrier being associated to be mounted atanopening to control visibility andcommunication through A,

the opening, the element and the barrier being associated so that eachVby its own independent.

of interfering with visibility, the vbarrier being carried by theelement, and means for retaining the element in communication-preventingposition when moved into that position.

4. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guardedunobserved inspection or positive communication through the opening, theconstruction including a closure for the opening, the Yclosure includinga Ypair of members each of which normally tends to move toopening-closing position by its own independent force, one of themembers having an aperture to cooperate' with the opening, the othermember being associated with the aperture and normally tending togravitate into position for barring that aperture, the aperture having abarrierrmounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permitvisibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering withpositive communication through the opening and with visibility in theother direction.

5. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permit guardedunobserved inspection or positive communication through the opening, theconstruction including a closure for the opening, the closure includinga pair of members each of which normally tends to move toopening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture tocooperate with the opening and being hingedly mounted to move laterallytoward and away'from the opening, the other member being pivotallymounted upon the rst member so as no-rmally to tend to gravitate intoposition for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barriermounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permitvisibility through the barrier in one direction but interfering withpositive communication Ythrough the opening and with visibility in theother direction. Y

6. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door topermit guarded inspection or positive communication through the openingwithout the necessity for opening the door, the construction including aclosure for the opening, the closure including anY element and a membereach of which normally tends to move to opening-closing position, theelement having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, a barrier forthe aperture on the element and extending laterally from the element,the extension of the barrier being received within the opening when theelement is in its normal position, the member being associated with theaperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, and Ymeans'associated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier butinterfering with positive communication through the opening.

7. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening Ythrough a doortopermit guarded inspection or positive communication through ture, andmeans associated with the barrier to permit visibility through thebarrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.v

8. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door topermitV guarded inspection or positive communication through the openingwithout the necessity for opening the door, the construction including amounting secured tothe door, the mounting Yhaving a passage forcooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an element and a member each of which normally tends to moveto passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperatewith the opening and the passage, the member being carried by theelement and normally tending to bar that aperture, the aperture having abarrier mounted therein, and means associated with the barrier to permitvisibility through the barrier but interfering withA positivecommunication through the opening.

9. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a door topermit guarded inspection or positive communication through the openingwithout the Vnecessity for opening kthe door, the construction includinga mountingsecuredto the door, the mounting having a passage forcooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an element and a member each of which normally tends to moveto passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperatewith the opening and the passage, an annular housing associated with theelement and positioned immediately around the aperture, a barrier forthe aperture within the housing, the barrier being of less extent thanthe passage, the housing and the barrier being received within thepassage when the element is in its normal position, the member beingassociated with the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture,and means associated with the barrier to permit visibility through thebarrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.g

10. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincluding a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passagefor cooperation With the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an element and a member each of which normally tends to moveto passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperatewith the opening and the passage, a depressed surfaceon the elementimmediately Varound the aperture, an annular housing associated with theelement immediately around the aperture and having a portion there-V ofsecured at the depressed surface, a barrier for the aperture within thehousing, the barrier being of less extent than the passage, the housingand the barrier being received Within the passage when the element is inits normal position, the member being associated with the aperture andnormally tending to bar that aperture, and means asso-y ciated with thebarrier to permit visibility through the barrier but interfering withpositive communication through the opening.

11. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening throughy a doorto permit guarded inspection or positivecommunication through theopening without the necessity for opening the t door, the constructionincluding a mounting at one face of the door, the mounting having apaspresse-d around the aperture, an annular band flanged in oppositedirections ,atV its two edges,\

Sage for cooperation with the opening, an es` cutcheon plate at theother face of the door, the escutcheon plate having a hole forcooperation with the opening and .the passage, the mounting and theescutcheon plate being secured together toprevent rotational movementthereof relative to each other and to the door, a closure for thepassage, the closure including an 'element and a member each` of whichnormally tends to move to passagefclosing position, the element havingan aperture to cooperate with the opening and the passage, the memberbeing associated with the aperture and normally tending to bar thataperture, thev aperture having a barrier mounted therein, meansassociated with the barrier to permit visibility through the barrier butinterfering with positive communication through the opening, and aknocker pivotally supported in association with theY escutcheon plate,the knocker being secured in position by securing together the mountingand the escutcheon plate.

12. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded in-V spection or positive communication through theopening without the necessity for opening thel door, the constructionincluding a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passagefor cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an element and a member each of which normally tends to moveto passage-closing position, the element having an aperture to cooperatewith the opening and the passage, the element being hingedly supported 1upon the mounting to move toward and away from the mounting, a strikeupon the mounting, a gravity latch pivoted upon the element andrestrained against movement below the level of the strike, the elementbeing propelled to its normal position by resilient means, the latchbeing limited in its upward movement to provide a grip for moving theelement hingedly away from the mounting, the member being associatedwith the aperture and normally tending to bar that aperture, theaperture having a barrier mounted therein, and means associated with thebarrier to permitvvisibility through the barrier but interfering withpositive communication through the opening.

13. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at anopening, means forV controlling such communication and also visibilitythrough the opening, the means including a plate member movable towardand away from the opening, the member having an aperture for rege istrywith the opening when the member has been movedtoward and up to theopening, the surface of the plate member immediately contiguous to theopening when in such position being depressed around the aperture, anannular housing seated on the depressed surface, and means carried inthe housing and positioned in association with the aperture forgoverning visibility through the opening, the visibility-governing meanshaving a surface for reflecting light into the eyes of an unauthorizedobserver at one face of the member.

14. As'an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at anopening, means for controllingV such communication and also visibilitythrough the opening, the means including a plate member movable towardand away from the opening, the member having an aperture for registrywith the opening when the member has been moved toward and up to theopening, the surface of the plate member immediately contiguous to theopening when in such position being dethe outwardly directed flangebeing seated on the depressed surface, the band defining Va housing, andmeans carried in the housing Vand positioned in association with theaperture for governing visibility through the opening, theVVisibility-gov?- erning means having a surface for reflecting light`into the eyes of an unauthorized observer at one face of the member.

Vi5. As an element of a cormnunication-controlling device positioned atan opening,` means for controlling such communication and alsovisibility through the opening, the means including a plate membermovable toward and away from the opening, the member having an aperturefor reg- 1 istry with the opening when the member has been moved towardand up to the opening, the surface' of the plate member immediatelyrcontiguous to the opening when in such position being depressed aroundthe aperture, an annular band flanged in opposite directions at its twoedges, the outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressedsurface, the walls defining the depressed surface being swagedagainstthe flange, thefband defining a housing, a pair of transparentmem@ istry with the opening when the member has beenmoved toward and upto the opening, the surface Y of the plate member immediately contiguousto the opening when in such position being depressed around theaperture, an annular band flanged in opposite directions at its twoedges, the outwardly directed flange being seated on the depressedsurface, the walls defining the de pressedsurface being swaged againstthe flange,

Y opening to permit guarded inspection or positive communication throughthe opening, the construction'includingl a closure for the opening, theclosure including a pair of lmembers each of which independently of theother normally tends to move to opening-closing position, one of themembers having an aperture to cooperate with the opening, the othermember being associated with the aperture and normally tending to barVthat aperture, the aperture having a Vbarrier mounted therein to permitvisibility but to interfere with positive communication through theopening. Y

18. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permitguarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, thecon-V struction including a closure for the opening, the closureincluding a pair of members each Vof which normally tends Ato move toopening-closing position, one of the members having an aperture tocooperate with the opening, the other member being carried entirely bythe first mem' ber so as normally to tend to bar that aperture, theaperture having a. barrier mounted therein to permit visibility but tointerfere with positive communication through the opening.

19. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permitguarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, theconstruction including a closure for the opening, the closure includinga pair of members each oi which normally tends by its own independentforce to move to opening-closing position, one or" the members having anaperture to cooperate With the opening, the other member beingassociated with'the aperture and normally tending togravitate intoposition for barring that aperture, the aperture having a barriermounted therein to permit visibility but to interfere with positivecommunication through the opening.

20. A wicket construction for positioning at an opening to permitguarded inspection or positive communication through the opening, theconstruction including a closure for theopening, the closure including apair of members each of which normally tends to move to opening-closingposition, one of the members having an aperture to cooperate With theopening and being hingedly mounted to move laterally toward and awayfrom the opening, the other member being pivotally mounted upon the rstmember so as normally to tend to gravitate into position for barringthat aperture, the aperture having a barrier mounted therein to permitvisibility but to interfere with positive communication through theopening,

21. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincluding a closure for the opening, the closure including an elementwhich normally tends to move to opening-closing position, the elementhaving an aperture to cooperate with the opening, a barrier for theaperture on the element and extending laterally from the element, theextension of the barrier being received Within the opening when theelement is in its normal position, and means associated with the barrierto permit visibility through the barrier but interfering With positivecommunication through the opening.

22. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening Without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincluding a closure for the opening, the closure including an elementwhich normally tends to move to opening-closing position, the elementhaving an aperture to cooperate With the opening, the element being ofslight thickness, a barrier for the aperture on the element andextending laterally from the element, the extension of the barrier beingreceived Within the opening when the element is in its normal position,and means associated With the barrier to permit visibility through thebarrier but interfering with positive communication through the opening.

23. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening Without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincluding a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passagefor cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an ele,-

ment which normally tends to move to passage- 24. A wicket constructionfor positioning at an f opening through a door to permit guardedinspection or positive communication through the opening without thenecessity for opening the door, the construction including a mountingsecured to the door, the mounting having a passage for cooperation withthe opening, afclosure for the passage, the closure including an elementwhich normally tends to move to passage-closing position, the elementhaving an aperture to cooperate With the opening and the passage, adepressed surface on the element immediately around the aperture, anannular housing associated with the element immediately around theaperture and having a portion thereof secured at the depressed surface,a barrier for the aperture Within the housing, the barrierv being ofless extent than the passage, the housing and the barrier being receivedwithin the passage when the element is in its normal position, thebarrierV permitting visibility but interfering with positivecommunication through the opening.

25. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening Without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincludinga mounting at one face of the door, the mounting having apassage for cooperation with the opening, an escutcheon plate at theother face of the door, the escutcheon plate having'a hole forcooperation with the opening and the passage, the mounting and theescutcheon plate being secured together to prevent rotational movementthereof relative to each other and to the door, a closure for thepassage, the closure including an element which normally tends to moveto passage-closing position, and a knocker pivotally supported inassociation with the escutcheon plate, the knocker being secured inposition by securing together the mounting and the escutcheon plate. Y

26. A Wicket construction for positioning at an opening through a doorto permit guarded inspection or positive communication through theopening Without the necessity for opening the door, the constructionincluding a mounting secured to the door, the mounting having a passagefor cooperation with the opening, a closure for the passage, the closureincluding an element to cooperate with the opening and the passage, theelement being hingedly supported upon the mounting to move toward andaway from the mounting, a strike upon the mounting, and a gravity latchpivoted upon the element and restrained against movement below the levelof the strike, the element being propelled to itsY normal position byresilient means, the latch being limited in its upward movement toprovide a grip for moving the element hingedly away from the mounting.

27. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at anopening, means for controlling such communication, the means including aplate member movable towards and away from the opening, the memberhaving an aperture for registry with the opening when the member hasbeen moved towards and up to the opening, the surface of the platemember immediately contiguous to the opening when in such position beingdepressed around the aperture, an annular housing seated on thedepressed surface, and means carried in the housing and positioned inassociation with the aperture for governing communication through theopening.

28. As an element of a communication-controlling device positioned at anopening, meansY for controlling such communication, the means includinga plate member movable towards and away from the opening, the memberhaving an aperture for registry with the opening when the member hasbeen moved towards and up to the opening, the surface o f the platemember immediately contiguous to the opening when in such Y positionbeing depressed around the aperture, an

annular band flanged in opposite directions atY its two edges,theoutwardly directed flange being seated on the depressed surface, theVband defining a housing, and means carried in the hous-V

